Highest Paid College Football Players

For college football fans hoping to see their team crowned a national champion, that success starts with their most important players. In the NIL era of college football, those players are also often the highest paid.

Like in the NFL where record contracts reset markets and determine where players suit up, NIL (name, image and likeness) endorsements have reshaped the game for college athletes.

College athletes can sign brand deals with national brands like EA Sports, Red Bull and Beats by Dre or local endorsements with car dealerships and HVAC companies. With the ability to make money off the value they create for their school, NIL contracts are now a critical factor in recruiting and fuel the transfer portal that has completely changed how teams construct their rosters.

These are the highest paid players in college football entering the new season.

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Highest Paid College Football Players

College football players are the highest paid athletes in college sports, and it should come as no surprise that the majority of the highest paid players line up behind center.

The quarterback is the most important position in football and the NIL valuations reflect just that. Seven of the top 10 highest paid college football players are quarterbacks, and 22 of the top 30 are QBs.

These players have amassed eye-popping NIL Portfolios, but also carry the expectations of leading their teams to the College Football Playoff and competing for the Heisman Trophy. Here are the top 10 for the 2026 season.

1. Arch Manning, QB, Texas Longhorns – NIL Valuation: $5.4M

Manning is the highest paid athlete in college sports and had one of the most anticipated seasons in college football history. Next up on the legendary Manning family tree, he redshirted his freshman season and sat primarily in his sophomore season aside from a handful of spot starts where he performed well.

But by his third year as a redshirt sophomore, the job was his. After a slow start, Manning reminded the nation why many believe he will be the number one pick in the 2027 draft. Texas closed the season 7-1and Manning passed for 14 touchdowns, rushed for five and threw only two interceptions.

Another season under center in Texas has many expecting a national championship-contending season. It’s a chance to solidify his place atop next year’s draft board and potentially be the first Manning to take home a Heisman Trophy.

2. Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State Buckeyes – NIL Valuation: $4.2M

Jeremiah Smith put together one of the best freshman seasons for a freshman wide receiver in college football history. He led the Big Ten in receiving yards and touchdowns on his way to helping Ohio State take home a national championship.

His sophomore season was equally impressive, leading the Big Ten in receptions and receiving yards, while being named First Team All-American and finishing sixth in Heisman voting. Smith will be the most coveted wide receiver prospect in the 2027 NFL draft with franchise-changing potential on the outside.

3. Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU Tigers – NIL Valuation: $4.0M

Leavitt became the first quarterback in the Lane Kiffin era at LSU. Now a member of the transfer portal’s two-timers club, Levitt was limited to just seven games in 2025 but combined for 15 touchdowns and only three interceptions in that time.

Leavitt was reportedly paid a handsome sum to help usher in the next era for the LSU Tigers. In an ever-competitive SEC, it’s a big bet they’re hoping will pay off.

4. Brendan Sorsby, QB, Texas Tech Red Raiders – NIL Valuation: $3.1M

No college football player has been talked about more this offseason than Brendan Sorsby. Sorsby has been at the center of national headlines after it was found that he had gambled tens of thousands of dollars on college football games, including Indiana football games while he was a member of the team, which is in direct violation of NCAA gambling rules.

Sorsby has a transfer portal hat trick. He transferred to Texas Tech after two years at Indiana and two years at Cincinnati and was expected to be a prize addition for a Red Raiders team that was on the doorstep of national title contention a year ago. Now, he won’t be on the Texas Tech roster and he was denied a chance to enter the NFL through a supplemental draft. Sorsby will now need to wait until the 2027 NFL Draft to find another team.

Texas Tech has said they will not seek to reclaim the NIL money already paid to Sorsby.

5. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon Ducks – NIL Valuation: $3.0M

After a stellar season with Oregon where he led the Ducks to a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance and threw 30 passing touchdowns, Moore returns for his junior season looking to take the next step in his development. He’s already secured endorsement deals with Nike, Beats by Dre, DoorDash and Raising Cane’s.

Had he entered the NFL draft, Moore likely would have gone as a top-five pick. Instead, he opted to return to Oregon for another season, a decision that has not dented his NFL prospects in the slightest. If anything, Moore gets another chance to improve against top-tier defenses and better prepare himself for the big leagues.

6. Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan Wolverines – NIL Valuation: $3.0M

Another Beats by Dre signee, Underwood possesses Clark Kent-type physical traits at 6’4″ and 230 pounds, along with stellar rushing and passing ability. He was a huge get for the Wolverines as part of their 2025 recruiting class.

It was a mixed bag for Underwood, though. He threw for 11 touchdowns but also tossed nine interceptions, including seven over his final five games. He averaged just 4.5 yards per attempt and added six rushing touchdowns in a subpar 9-4 season by Michigan standards.

Still, there is plenty of excitement around Underwood in Ann Arbor. He showed flashes of the game-breaking ability the Wolverines believe he has.

7. Cam Coleman, WR, Texas Longhorns – NIL Valuation: $2.9M

Only behind Jeremiah Smith, Cam Coleman might be the second-best receiver in the nation. Despite playing in a struggling Auburn offense for two seasons, he brought in 93 receptions for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Now at Texas, he gets the chance to play with the nation’s best quarterback and showcase his big-play skill set. It’s the college football equivalent of an NFL contender adding one of the league’s top wide receivers ahead of a Super Bowl run. For Texas, in what is looking to be Arch Manning’s final season, the Longhorns are going all in on their offense.

8. LaNorris Sellers, QB, South Carolina Gamecocks – NIL Valuation: $2.7M

A redshirt sophomore, Sellers put together an impressive redshirt freshman season, taking South Carolina to the Citrus Bowl. But he took a step back in his redshirt sophomore season, throwing fewer touchdowns and more interceptions while leading a South Carolina offense that struggled against their SEC counterparts en route to a 1-6 finish to the season.

Still, Sellers gives South Carolina their best chance to win. Following that up-and-down year, he declined to enter the NFL draft. With a strong season, he could set himself up to be a first or second round draft pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

9. Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina Gamecocks – NIL Valuation: $2.5M

The second Gamecock in the top 10, Stewart is the only defensive player among the top 15 highest paid college football players and one of the best edge rushers in the country. In two seasons, he has racked up 22.5 tackles for loss,11 sacks and six forced fumbles.

He is one of the top defensive prospects heading into the 2027 draft. His ability to defend the run and rush the passer is a rare combination that could make him a cornerstone player for whichever team is lucky enough to get him.

10. Drew Mestemaker, QB, Oklahoma State Cowboys – NIL Valuation: $2.4M

Mestamaker followed his head coach Eric Morris from North Texas to Oklahoma State. Last year, he led the FBS in passing yards with 4,300 and also led the nation in passing yards per attempt to go along with 34 passing touchdowns. The hope is that a new offensive mind and new offensive talent can bring the Cowboys back to bowl game contention after two straight losing seasons.

The test for Mestamaker will be going up against superior competition. He has the tools to make an NFL roster and this season will be a chance to determine whether he has what it takes to develop into an NFL starter.

Top 30 Highest Paid College Football Players

Here are the top 30 highest paid college football players (and some of the highest paid college athletes, period) by NIL valuation according to ON3.

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